Arrest made in crash

November 1, 2013

A 25-year-old Waiehu man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a motor vehicle crash that killed Earle Maielua of Wailuku on Monday, police said.

The man was arrested at 2:30 p.m. and released pending investigation on six separate charges, said Maui police spokesman Lt. William Juan. The charges are first-degree negligent homicide, driving without a valid license, first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, third-degree promoting a dangerous drug, two counts of prohibited acts and drug paraphernalia, and third-degree promoting detrimental drugs.

The collision occurred at 3:53 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Waiehu Beach Road and Linekona Place in Waiehu. Police said that the man was operating a 2004 Suzuki GSXR motorcycle and traveling west on Waiehu Beach Road when he hit the rear of a black 2012 Ningbo GTX moped that Maielua was driving in the same direction.

After hitting Maielua, the motorcyclist continued west and sideswiped the left side of a 2004 Honda Accord that was parked facing west on the westbound shoulder of the road, police said.

The man was later transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center emergency room for treatment after suffering minor injuries in the crash.

Neither the motorcyclist nor the moped operator were wearing a helmet, police said.

The traffic death was the 12th on Maui County roads this year, compared with 20 at the same time last year. Maielua was the third moped operator killed in traffic crashes on Maui this year.